(Motorsport-Total.com) – Formula 1 fans in Germany had to wait a long time for news on how the free-to-air broadcast of the premier class would look in the 2026 season. The starting signal was finally given in Monaco, and now it is clear how Formula 1 will continue this year on the private broadcaster RTL.
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The Cologne-based broadcaster will air four more Grands Prix including qualifying free-to-air during the rest of the year: next up is the popular classic at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) on July 19, before the currently last Formula 1 race in Zandvoort (Netherlands) will be broadcast on August 23.
Those excited about the new race on the brand-new city circuit in Madrid, the Madring, can look forward: the debut in Spain on September 13 will also be shown live on RTL. To conclude, the US highlight from Las Vegas will be shown at breakfast time on November 22, where, as in 2024, the world championship decision might be made.
In the UK (July 4) and Singapore (October 10), the sprint race will be shown free-to-air, while at the three events in Hungary (July 25), Italy (September 5), and Austin (October 24), at least the qualifying will be broadcast on RTL.
For all other race weekends, either qualifying or sprint will be offered on the streaming platform RTL+, but as a broadcast of the original stream from Sky Deutschland. All races will, as usual, be available on the pay-TV channel.
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RTL took over Sky on June 1 and broadcast qualifying and the race free-to-air in Monaco, bringing together the familiar faces of both broadcasters for a joint broadcast.
“With our first joint super sports weekend, we make it immediately tangible for the fans what the merger of RTL Germany and Sky Germany means,” said RTL managing director Inga Leschek. “This is a preview of the sports experiences we will create together for the fans in the future.”
However: the schedule also shows that this year only five – not seven as last year – Formula 1 races will be shown free-to-air in total.
RTL usually relies on the regular team of presenter Florian König, commentator Heiko Waßer, pit reporters Kai Ebel and Alessa-Luisa Naujoks, as well as experts Christian Danner and Günther Steiner.
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